Smyrna times., 1887-07-27


the worse for me, for l shall now begin [.
suffer from hunger as before For
whether you choose to believe it or not
such as you see me i have been hungry al
my life"
This statements, made to vOluptuarl
who, moment since, had been remem
bering with regret the cuisine OF the CAT,
Anglais, was terrible one, and the Duk,
de Hardimont looked at his companion
with an astOnishment not unmixed will
!. terror The soldier smiled sOrrOwfully
disclosing to view his. teeth that resem
bled those Of a wolf-the teeth of a mar
who suffered from hunger habitually-and
whose whiteness COntrasted strongly with
his clay colored complexion. Then, as il
cOmprehending that the duke was waiting
for some further disclosures:
Stay" he said, ceasing abruptly to adj
dress his companion in the second person,
divining doubtless that he was a rich and
happy man. "Stay, let us walk little up
and down the road to warm our feet, and
l will tell you things such as, dare say,
you have never heard before. My name
is Jean VictOr-Jean Victor, and nothing
more, for l am founding, and my only
happy recOllectiOns are those of my early
childhood at the asylum. The bed clothes
on our little beds in the dOrmitOry were
always clean and white; we played in a
! garden under the shade of great trees.
| there was good sister there, young and
pale as wax-she was dying of cOnsump-
tiOn-whOse favOrite was, and at whose
side l preferred walking up and down to
playing with the other children, for she
would draw me to her, and lay her thin
hot hand on my forehead. But as soon as
l was II years Old and had taken my first
communion, there was nothing then but
misery The directors apprenticed me to
chair mender of the FaubOurg ST.
Jacques. This is not a trade. YOU under
stand, it is impossible to gain one's living
at it, so that, for the most part, the master
could entice only the boys of the
Blind Boys asylum to become his
apprentices. Then it was that
first began to suffer from hunger The
master and mistress-twO elderly LimOu-
slams, who were both afterward murdered
were terrible misers, and the bread, of
which they gave Us u little piece at every
meal was kept under lock and key the
rest of the time. And in the evening at
supper yOu should have seen the mistress
in her black cap, heaving sigh at every
glance she stole into the soup tureen when
she gave us our soup The two other an
prentices, the "Blind Boys" were less
unhappy than |, she did not give them
any more than she gave me, but ut least
they could not see as l did, her look of
reproach when she handed them their
plates. And the misfortune was that I
had always had good appetite. Is that
any fault of mine? l ask. / passed three
years OF this apprenticeship - always
hungry. Three years. One could learn
the business in month, but the directors
could not know everything, and did not
suspect that the boys We're imposed upon.
An, you were surprised just now to see
me take the bread up out of the mud9
Well, l am accustomed to that
have picked up crusts out of the
dirt, and when they were too drv to eat
left them to soak all night in INV wash
basin. There were sometimes wind falls
too-One must be just-the bits of bread.
mbbled at the end, that the school bows
would take from their lunch baskets and |
throw on the pavement, as they came out
OF school. ! tried to take that direction |
as often as could in doing my errands. |
ana then, when the apprenticeship was /
over, 1t was trade, as / have said that |
would not feed man. All, / t-ied many /
Other things in turn. | had a heart for 1
work, ! had ! waited on the masons.
was shop boy, a furniture polisher. and /
don't know what besides. BAH now /
there was no work to be had. again lost /
my place. In short / never had enou0b
to eat to satisfy me. All! tonnerre! what
q rage have sometimes been in. passing
by bakers shop! Happily for me. nj
Such moments always called to mind the
kind sister of the asylum, who so often
advised me to be good, and would fancy
felt the heat of her little hand ON nv
forehead. At last, at 18 years of age. /
snhsted. You know as well as l do that
ne soldier has barely sufficient for his
wants. And now-it almost makes one
augh-the siege and the famine You see
spoke the truth when / told YOU that I
lad been always, always hungryr'
The young duke had good heart. and
IN nearing this terrible plant uttered bv
man like himself, by a soldier whose
inform made him his equal he felt pro-
oundly moved. 1t was even fortunate
OF ms reputation for sangfrOid as a dandy.
nat the evening wind dried, before they
yes.
Jean Victor" he said. ceasinO in his
urn, by a delicate instinct. to address tbe
oundling in the second person. t'if Won
nd l should survive this terrible war. we
nall see each other again. and l hone to
G OF service to you. But for the present
s the only baker at the advanced posts IS
ne corporal in ordinary, and as my ration
Dread Is Twice too. large for my appe-
le, Which Is not very robust one. If is
greed, Is It not, we will share it like good
s0OO
Inc handgrasp the two young men gave
ich other was warm and close and. as
ley were worn ont by the guard duty and
hlSnC watches, they re-entered the par
u OF the Inn, where dozen soldiers were
ing on heap of straw on the floor. and
rowing themselves down, side bv side
icy were soon fast asleep.
Toward midnight Jean Victor awoke
'obably through hunger. The wind had
VepU away the clouds from the face of
e heavens, and mOOnbeam, penetrating
e room through a hole in the roof ~
the charming blonde beod AZ
e young duke, who looked like a sleen-
g EndymiOn. Still under the influence
the feeling aroused in his breast bv the
hdness OF his comrade, Jean Victor was
gardlng him with naive admiration
hen the sergeant of the platoon Opened
e door, and called over the names of the :
re men who were to relieve the sentinels
the advanced guard The duke was
e OF these, but he did not awaken at the
und of his name. I
Get upl Hardimont," repeated the /
rgeant. 1
If you have no objection, sergeant
ii Jean Victor, rising to his feet. III
IL mount guard in his place. He is SO
1nd asleep-and he is my comrade. . n
AS you will.
And the five men having left the room
snoring began anew. +
i'"F "n hour afterwards. however
Dts, rapid and close at hand. broke the
'hce OF the night. In moment every
N was on his feet, the soldiers sailed
tn from the inn with cautious foot 81
ps, each mans hand on the trigger of
gun, as he gazed eagerly down tbe
"a That lay white in the moonlight.
But what Is the hour, theng'' asked
, duke Il was to mount guard to.
Jean Victor went in your place. " some
answered him.
A. A m this moment soldier was seen run
lg up the road.
Nelly' they cried in questioning ac-
rs, when he stopped ont of breath